Penstemon 2012

[RickR]

Always a good show in my garden, but this season the best ever: Penstemon cobaea:
        

Penstemon hirsutus var. pygmaeus
              

A chance hybrid between the two:
        

[Hoy]

Impressive, Rick!
Last year I sowed some penstemons and planted out at my summerhouse. No I am looking forward to see what kind of flowers they have as they were obviously not what the labels said

[Lori S.]

Very beautiful, Rick!  
Some of the other penstemons are starting to bloom here, following P.nitidus, which is always the earliest.
P. x barbatus(?):
 

P. secundiflorus:
 

Penstemon confertus:


And the "P. alluviorum" I grew from NARGS 2010 seed last year turned out to be... let's see now, what do misidentified penstemon seeds always turn out to be?  You guessed it... P. hirsutus!   I'm baffled at how often this happens, and that it's always the same imposter!  

[McDonough]

And the "P. alluviorum" I grew from NARGS 2010 seed last year turned out to be... let's see now, what do misidentified penstemon seeds always turn out to be?  You guessed it... P. hirsutus!   I'm baffled at how often this happens, and that it's always the same imposter!   
tried to inline include (attachthumb) attachment #6 but it could not be found (or you don't have permission to view images).

It is baffling isn't it, that so many Penstemon species in the seedexes turn out to be P. hirsutus, but even moreso with the Eastern USA species, because they're closer to looking similar.  Really like the P. secundiflorus, the shape and declined position of the flowers is most pleasing.

Rick, P. cobaea is awesome, but I'm thrilled to see a hybrid between it and hirsutus.  You should try growing on some seedlings from that hybrid to see what develops.

My shambles of an Allium garden (lost weed control over it last year, this year I can barely look at it, plus still no time for such a major garden overhaul) has some non-Allium plants for added color; and Penstemon hirsutus (regular tall forms) becoming a weed itself.  It made quite a show in May, among the spikes of weedy invading grass, in all colors from lavender, bluish, white, and my favorite, clear pinks. Flowering now is is Penstemon barbatus, I like this one very much.

[RickR]

Rick, P. cobaea is awesome, but I'm thrilled to see a hybrid between it and hirsutus.  You should try growing on some seedlings from that hybrid to see what develops.

In fact I have been wanting to do just that.  The first bloom was so little I didn't allow seed to develop.  The next two seasons the weather didn't cooperate, and it looked like the plant might be short lived because it seemed to be waning.  But it has come back better than ever now, and it looks as though I will have good seed set.

[Hoy]

Seems I have to look out for red Penstemons!

This year I have to different species (or hybrids) flowering - sorry, no names

[McDonough]

I'm curious Trond, how is it that you get so many plants without any names, even if wrong names?  Were they just offered up as Penstemon sp.?

[Hoy]

I'm curious Trond, how is it that you get so many plants without any names, even if wrong names?  Were there just offered up as Penstemon sp.?

Well, Mark, to tell the truth if you haven't guessed already: I am lazy!

Most seeds I get have names of course although some are wrong. Regarding the penstemons I sowed several species and they all had names but the seedlings looked very similar and as you see it's only two different ones.
However, I always use labels when I plant seeds but they usually disappear when I prick out the seedlings as I don't bother labelling all the plants. Finally when I place the plants outside the last labels disappear! When I was younger this didn't matter as I could recall almost all the Latin names. Not so anymore

[McDonough]

I always use labels when I plant seeds but they usually disappear when I prick out the seedlings as I don't bother labelling all the plants. Finally when I place the plants outside the last labels disappear! When I was younger this didn't matter as I could recall almost all the Latin names. Not so anymore

One thing I've been doing in the last few years, is double-labeling plants, one label in front and one in back of anything I plant.  If I plant out a "block" of seedlings, I use 4 labels, one in each corner of a rectangular grouping of seedlings.  I have to label plants because like you, I cannot depend on my memory anymore.  

Both penstemons you show are very attractive, I hope someone can suggest an ID for them.

[Lori S.]

Penstemon procerus:


Various self-seeded Penstemon x barbatus:
   

Penstemon lyallii:


Penstemon whippleanus:

[Hoy]

Somehow I missed this! Beautiful collection you have, Lori!

Mark, I am too lazy to make all those labels! And the thrushes and magpies pick everything anyway . . . . . I had to bury the labels

[Fermi]

I grew this from the Seedex as Penstemon buckleyi,
Can anyone say whether it is or isn't true to name?
cheers
fermi

[Lori S.]

Very pretty!  I don't think it's Penstemon buckleyi though, as it doesn't seem to match the description in Lodewick and Lodewick (Key to the Genus Penstemon) which says for P. buckleyi:

Group XIV, Section Annularius, Subsection Arenarii
Staminode expanded, between 1 and 3mm wide
Anther not exerted, sacs spread       (Nope, anthers are exerted on your plant)
Bracts and upper leaves ovate, blunt with short sharp tips; very broad  (Nope, probably the clearest mismatch.)
Corolla medium size or small
Staminode with long beard 1/2 of its length    (Nope. Can't tell.)

So, the next question is... what is it really?     Well, at least it's not Penstemon hirsutus, so you beat the odds!

Bob Nold, the god of penstemons, used to pop in here now and then.  I wonder if his ears are tingling?

[McDonough]

Fermi, a very attractive Penstemon, but I agree with that it's probably not P. buckleyi, but I don't know what species it is.  And I also agree with Lori, you beat the odds whereby perhaps 9 out 10 misidentified Penstemons end up being P. hirsutus.

Sometimes a picture tells it all, take a look at these links, the distinctive thing seen in P. buckleyi flat-faced rotate-shaped flowers, it's a real beauty.

Penstemon buckleyi, excellent photo(s):
http://www.wildflower.org/gallery/result.php?id_image=5914

Several photos and color forms (scroll down to photo rows 4-6)
http://flickrhivemind.net/Tags/scrophularaceae/Recent
...here's one of the gallery photos, notice the flat-faced rotate flowers.
http://www.flickr.com/photos/88913562@N00/2578016159

[Fermi]

Thanks, Mark and Lori,
I had my doubts when a friend said that the P. buckleyi he'd grown from seed (probably the same Seedex) wasn't correct.
Seeing the pics of the true one I realise why I'd ordered it! I'll try again if it's on the NARGS Seedex this year.

  And I also agree with Lori, you beat the odds whereby perhaps 9 out 10 misidentified Penstemons end up being P. hirsutus.

Usually the misnamed Penstemons here turn out to be P. serrulatus which is a fine plant in its own right but not one for the trough or crevice garden!
This one was different in appearance which is what gave me the hope that it was correctly named - I'm glad I hadn't passed on seed of it but I had printed a pic in our club newsletter
cheers
fermi